Glass surfacing apparatus



April 19, 1932. J DRAKE 1,854,507

GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jhh LDra/(e April 19, 1932. DRAKE 1,854,507

GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E IL E: 4: gwwntoz John L. Drahe Patented Apr. 119, 3932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE :ronn Ii. DRAKE, or TOLEDO, 01110,

PANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Application filed May 4, 1928. Serial No. 275,157.

The present invention relates to improvements in glass surfacing apparatus and more particularly to polishing machines for use in polishing plate glass.

In the past it has been customary to mount the polishing runners or blocks upon the runner frame in such a manner that the centrifugal force created incident to the rotation of the runner frame would cause the polishing runners or blocks to be lifted or raised from the glass with the result that the entire weight of the runners would not rest uniformly upon the glass at all times during the polishing thereof. Furthermore the runners were often not parallel with the glass but on the other hand the face of the runner was held at an angle to the plane of the glass as a consequence of which the polishing runners had an un-uniform polishing action on the glass.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of an improved runner construction wherein the polishing runners or blocks are pivotally mounted upon the runner frame in such a manner that the above objectional features will be largely avoided. That is, the polishing runners are so mounted upon the runner frame that the centrifugal force created by the rotation of said frame will be exerted upon the polishing runners in such a manner as to force them more intimately into contact with the glass instead of tending to lift or raise them out of contact therewith. Thus, the greater the speed of rotation of the runner frame and consequently the greater the centrifugal force created, the greater will be the pressure of the polishing runners upon the glass. In this way, the entire weight of the polishing runners will at all times be caused to rest upon the glass and the danger of the polishing runner being held at an angle to the glass will be eliminated or at least retarded. Also, the centrifugal force created can be utilized to regulate the pressure of the runners upon the glass.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings forming a part of this ap plication and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, i

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of'the improved runner construction provided by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the runner frame, the same being partially broken away.

Fig. one of the polishing ing therefor, and

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 2, the reference numeral 5 indicates a table or truck upon the upper surface of which is adapted to be mounted the glass sheet 6 to be polished. While this table may be of the usual revolving type if desired, it has been herein shown as mounted upon wheels 7 running on tracks 8 whereby the sheet can be carried beneath and in contact with the polishing runners or blocks of one or a plurality of polishing machines.

The improved runner construction forming the particular subject matter of the present invention includes a runner frame designated in its entirety by the numeral 9 and comprising a hub 10 from which radiate a plurality of arms 11 connected at their outer ends by an annular horizontal platform or ring member 12. The runner frame 9 is mounted at the lower end of the vertical runner spindle 13 extending through hub 10, said runner spindle being driven in any suitable manner and by any preferred means to effect rotation of the runner frame.

Carried at the periphery of the runner frame 9 are a plurality of polishing runners 14, these runners consisting preferably of metal blocks having secured to the lower faces thereof polishing pads 15 of felt or other suitable material. The upper faces of 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of runners and the mountthe blocks 14 are preferably provided with sockets to receive ball heads 16 of the vertical spindles 17. Each of the polishing runners is adapted to be adjustably mounted as a separate unit upon the runner frame 9 and more specifically upon the ring member or plat- LCD form 12. To thisend there is carried by the It is to be understood that the form of the annular latform or ring member 12 a pluralit 0 bracket members one being pro-' vide for each polishing runner and each including a base late 18 rovided at its inner end with space upstan ing ears 19 between which is positioned a substantially horizontal suplpnrting arm 20 ivoted at its outer end upon t e pin 21 carrie b3 ears 19. The supporting arm 20 is provi ed at its inner end with a bearing portion 22 within which is disposed bushin 23 receiving therethrough the spindle 17 o the corresponding (polishing runner 14. The spindle 17 is prov1 ed at opposite ends of the bushing with collars or anges 24 and 25 to prevent vertical movement of said spindle with respect to said supporting arm.

The bracket member is secured to the platform 12 by means of bolts or the like 26 passing through slots 27 in the base plate 18 and having nuts 28 threaded thereon. Thus, with such an arrangement, the brackets and polishin blocks can be readily adjusted horizonta 1 relative to the runner frame.

The base plate 18 of each bracket member is also rovided at its inner end with oppositely sposed upstanding forks or the like 29 within which are rotatably mounted a plurality of roller bearings 30 supported upon pins 31, said roller bearin s engaging the supporting arm 20 to allow ree vertical movement thereof in a manner to reduce friction between these parts and to also revent lateral movement thereof. Carried by the supportin arm 20 are wear plates 32 with which the rol er bearings 30 contact.

Arranged inwardly of the outer platform or supporting ring 12 and connecting adjacent arms 11 are a plurality of auxiliary platforms 33 which also support a plurality of polishing runners 14: mounted in the same manner as the outer polishing runners 14 and being adapted to operate in the same manner.

In operation, as the vertical spindle 13 is driven to rotate the runner frame 9, the polishing runners will be carried therewith about the axis of the runner frame and at the same time will be allowed to simultaneously rotate about their individual axes. It will be noted that the polishing runners 14 and 14 are mounted upon the runner frame in such a manner that the centrifugal force created incident to the rotation of sa1d frame will urge or force the polishing runners into more intimate contact with the less. Otherwise stated, the pin 21, about w ich the supporting arm pivots to permit vertical movement of the polishing runner, is arranged outwardly of the axis of rotation of said runner so that the greater the centrifugal force created upon rotation of the runner frame, the greater will be the pressure of the polishing runners upon the glass.

invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changesin the shape, size and arrangement .of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for surfacin sheet glass, a rotatable runner frame inclu 'ng a hub, a plurality of arms radiatin therefrom and an annular horizontal platf brm connected to said arms, a plurality of polishing runners a plurality of bracket members supported upon and secured to said platform, one being provided for each runner, a supporting arm or each runner having a portion thereof arranged substantially horizontally over the platform and being pivotally secured at one end to its respective bracket member to allow vertical movement of the runner with respect to said runner frame, said supporting arm projecting inwardly beyond said platform and having a vertically disposed hearing portion, and a vertical s indle carried by the plolishing runner and ournaled within said caring portion.

2. In apparatus for surfacin sheet glass, a rotatable runner frame inclu ing a hub, a plurality of arms radiating therefrom and an annular horizontal platform connected to said arms, a plurality of polishing runners, a plurality of bracket members supported upon and secured to said platform, one being provided for each runner, a supporting arm for each runner having a portion thereof arranged substantially horizontally over the platform and being pivotally secured at one end to its respective bracket member to allow vertical movement of the runner with respect to said runner frame, said supporting arm projecting inwardly beyond said platform and having a vertically disposed bearing portion, a vertical spindle carried by the polishing runner and journaled within said bearing portion, means for adjusting the bracket members horizontally on the platform, and means carried by each bracket member and engaging opposite sides of the respective supporting arm for guiding the same during its vertical movement and for preventing lateral movement thereof.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, this 1st day of May, 1928.

JOHN L. DRAKE. 

